THE AMERICAN TELESCOPE 6, BY A CLODHOPPER, OF NORTH CAROLINA (1825) ELDER JOSHUA LAWRENCE

If what I hear be true, that there are about twelve thousand in all the various polishing machines in this country, preparing themselves to hunt fortunes, live without work, and please the world, and these like devouring locusts, are soon to be let loose, flying to the most populous towns and cities, and looking about in every hole and corner of the union, where the fattest purse is to be had; in order to live on the labors of others, in pomp and style--for one, I pray, they may keep away from North Carolina; for we have fortune hunters and beggars enough already, who produce disputes, jars and discord among brethren of the same church, if we refuse to give, and are unwilling to be stripped of our hard earnings; while our every day, but faithful and humble ministers, are neglected, and can scarcely procure decent clothing, and provide the necessaries of life for themselves and families.

But we are told by some of our doctors and reverends, that they do not undertake to make ministers out of any sort of men;--that they do not think to change the heart, or call anyone to the ministry. This, they let us know, they leave for God to do; while their machine is for giving the last polish--the finishing touch to their qualifications; which operation, is considered far superior, to enable them to please men, than anything God has done to them, or can be expected to do. Now, in the name of the best of causes, and for its sake, I ask them, to give me an example or precept from the word of God, or show any of the prophets, John the Baptist, or any of the apostles, who, after being called of God to their respective missions, that ever went to school, or to study under Dr. Greatman, to learn how to preach, or what to preach! No example or precept from the word of God can be produced in support of such a practice; and it is evident, that these theological schools, or machines for polishing ministers, are the inventions of the devil, who is working in the background, to undermine the Church of God, and corrupt the ministry and society in general, and fill the world with oppression, wretchedness, and misery.

Look, and see, among the prophets and apostles, whether the Lord had such respect for education and learning! What sort of men did he choose, for the most part, to preach his gospel? And what sort of men has he chosen, in all ages of the Church, to declare his counsel unto men? Peter, John, and all the apostles, Paul excepted, were unlearned and unlettered men; yet, Christ made this no bar, hindrance, or disqualification, to their being his apostles; and generally, in all ages of the Church, God has chosen the poor and unlearned to preach his word; and made them mighty, through grace, to the pulling down of the strongholds of satan's kingdom; in order, that the power might be of God, and not of men. This cannot be denied, yet our doctors of divinity are trying to pervert the order of God or help him to finish the work of qualifying ministers. Hear Paul's observations on ministers, &c. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise; and the weak things of the world, the base, the despised, and things which are not, hath God chosen:" for what? that no flesh should glory in his presence. And these observations agree with God's conduct in the choice of ministers of all ages, except in a few cases. But our wise and learned doctors, have found out a more excellent way, they think, than God's way;--they are going to instruct and polish numerous young men for the ministry. They may ruin them, but they cannot better them unless it is to please men. To better them, to please God, or to profit his church and people, they cannot. For preaching is a gift--the gift of God; and what doctors of divinity are not able to give.

I do not think myself guilty of a breach of religious charity, in saying, that these polishing machines, lately established for qualifying young men to preach, are of the devil, and from high-minded men, who want to maintain their cause by human strength, and an arm of flesh. These high-minded doctors seem, indeed, to me, like some men, who dislike their Maker's work, in making the handsome and elegant horse. Say some, his ears are too long--they must be cropped;--say others, his tail hangs too much down,--he must be nicked before he can please us: and to work they go, to better the Creator's work, or to make a horse to their own liking. Just so with our learned doctors: after God has converted and called a poor young man to the ministry, and furnished him with every needful qualification, and directed him to go and preach his gospel, it will not answer--he does not please the doctors--he does not speak grammar, nor is he eloquent enough to command the respect of the people. He is not even polite in his manners and does not know how to conduct himself properly in genteel company. He must be altered before he will answer for a preacher, or be able to please the people and obtain a salary. Thus the proud and high-minded of this world, have, in all ages, set at naught God's ministers, and have heaped up to themselves teachers, having itching ears, who have sounded forth their own praise and had an eye to the purse.

To be continued.

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